Tarquinn Alatipi has had his sights set on a career in rugby league for some time.
He started playing at the age of five. In December he will commence a professional contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Alatipi explains how that opportunity arose.
“I was spotted at Nationals last year. Wellington got second and I played pretty well. I got six offers, but I liked South Sydney the best. When I went there I felt like I fitted in straight away,” he says.
The Warriors, Storm, Dragons and Bulldogs were among the teams vouching for Alatipi’s services.
The centre and standoff was a member of the St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream First XIII that won the Wellington competition last year and he was the only capital based player selected in the New Zealand Under-18 league team that toured Australia recently.
New Zealand lost both test matches. The first game was won by Australia 70-24, with Ivan Cleary’s son, Nathan, captaining the young Kangaroos. The second game went in favour of the Aussies by 30-6. It was marred by a series of ugly brawls
Alatipi says it’s “unfortunate” the fights happened, insists both teams are to blame, but doesn’t want the fighting to be the enduring memory of the tour.
“It was a great tour for learning,” he says.
“I discovered the Australian game is much quicker than the Kiwi game. The players are fitter and more experienced.”
There are no worries about Alatipi’s fitness. He has been active in Union, touch and dragon boating to.
He was a member of the Silverstream W6 crew who won the under-19 250m sprint at the National Waka Ama Secondary Schools Championships. The other crew members were Daniel Fiso, Tone Fauolo, Herewini Ammunson, Isaac Fa’alogo and Ivan Fepuleai.
He was also a member of the Silverstream crew that won their fifth consecutive Wellington dragon boating title. He achieved a 60-0 record in the sport.
Alatipi was extremely busy in the winter. He was a member of the Silverstream First XV and on Sunday would play for the Porirua Vikings who won the local Under-17 club competition.
Alatipi had never really played Union before, but he made a huge impression for the First XV. He was highly regarded by the national selectors and was man of the match on Land Rover First XV rugby when Silverstream beat Wellington College 38-27 – Alatipi scored three long-range tries.
“I got into rugby because I wanted to be closer to the boys in my last year of school. I really enjoyed the experience and that Wellington game was pretty special,” he says.
Alatipi s favourite player is Greg Inglis. His older brother Haize was a member of the Silverstream First XV that won Premier One in 2012. He will be moving with Tarquinn to Sydney.
“It will be tough to leave home, but I can’t wait to join the Rabbitohs. It will be tough, but I am grateful for the chance,” Tarquinn concludes.